Cable and panel fabric

Abstract

The present invention provides a fabric, consisting of multiple cables and multiple panels, for roofing applications. The cables are arranged in sets of three over the area to be covered, and the panels are suspended between the cable sets to complete the fabric. Specifically, each panel has four attachment points and is suspended between two adjacent cable sets such that it attaches to two of the three cables in each set on either side of it. More specifically, each panel attaches to the middle cable of the two sets on either side, and to the top cable in one set and the bottom cable in the other set. This particular arrangement creates overlapping rows of overlapping panels that viewed from one perspective resembles overlapping shingles on a conventional roof, however, when viewed from another perspective reveals that the individual panels are held apart by the cable sets to allow air and light to diffuse through.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fabric suitable for covering a structure of any shape, said fabric woven to allow the passage of light and air, said fabric comprising: a plurality of sets of cables, wherein each set of cables includes a first cable, a second cable, and a third cable;   a plurality of panels, wherein each panel has a first coupling mechanism located at a first attachment point, a second coupling mechanism located at a second attachment point, a third coupling mechanism located at a third attachment point, and a fourth coupling mechanism located at a fourth attachment point;   each said panel spans two adjacent said sets of cables such that said first coupling mechanism engages said first cable of a set of cables and   said second coupling mechanism engages said second cable in said same set of cables, and   said third coupling mechanism engages said third cable of said adjacent set of cables and said fourth coupling mechanism engages said second cable of said adjacent set of cables; and     said panels are arranged in a plurality of rows, such that said second cable in each said set of cables alternately engages said second coupling mechanism of one panel in said row and said fourth coupling mechanism of an adjacent panel within said same row.   
     
     
       2. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein said first, second, third, and fourth coupling mechanisms are selected from the group consisting of apertures, slots, cable ties, hooks, clamps, foldable tabs, and welds. 
     
     
       3. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein said panels are fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of paper, cardboard, cloth, nylon, Kevlar, Rayon, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyethylene, wood, glass, stained glass, stainless steel, copper, brass, bronze, and aluminum. 
     
     
       4. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein said cables are selected from the group consisting of single-strand wire, braided wire, rope, monofiliment, plastic tubing, and electrical wiring. 
     
     
       5. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein each said cable is provided with a tensioner. 
     
     
       6. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein a first end of each said cable set is fixedly attached to a first support member. 
     
     
       7. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein a first end of each said cable set is fixedly attached to a first support member and a second end of each said cable set is fixedly attached to a second support member. 
     
     
       8. The fabric according to claim 6, wherein said first support is selected from the group consisting of beams, planks, walls, poles, rods, tensioned cables, and cable stays. 
     
     
       9. The fabric according to claim 7, wherein said first support member and said second support member are selected from the group consisting of beams, planks, walls, poles, rods, tensioned cables, and cable stays. 
     
     
       10. The fabric according to claim 6, wherein the pitch of each said panel is adjustable by rotating said first support member around a long axis of said first support member. 
     
     
       11. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the spacing between adjacent said panels within said row is adjustable by rotating in unison each said cable set around an axis defined by said second cable. 
     
     
       12. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the spacing between adjacent said rows is adjustable by repositioning said first cable and repositioning said third cable both relative to said second cable of each said cable set. 
     
     
       13. A method for assembling a fabric of cables and panels, comprising: providing a first row of panels wherein each said panel has a first coupling mechanism, a second coupling mechanism, a third coupling mechanism, and a fourth coupling mechanism, and each said panel overlaps an adjacent said panel such that said second coupling mechanism of each said panel is aligned with said fourth coupling mechanism of said adjacent panel;   placing successive rows of said panels above and aligned with said first row of panels, wherein each said successive row is arranged in like manner as said first row, and a set of similarly situated panels in successive rows constitutes a panel column;   attaching cable sets, each having a first end and a second end, and each comprising first, second, and third cables, to each said panel in two adjacent said panel columns such that   said first cable attaches to said first coupling mechanism on each said panel in one said panel column, said second cable attaches to said second coupling mechanism on each said panel in said same panel column, and   said third cable attaches to said third coupling mechanism on each said panel in said adjacent panel column, and said second cable also attaches to said fourth coupling mechanism on each said panel in said adjacent panel column; attaching a first support member to said first end of each said cable set; attaching a second support member to said second end of each said cable set; and positioning each said panel such that said panels are uniformly spaced.